The Tower on the Rift: The View From the Mirror Quartet Book 2

War rages across Santhenar as Aachim, Faellem and old humans pursue the Mirror of Aachan. A desperate Tensor, leader of the Aachim people, flees with it into the wilderness, taking the brilliant young chronicler Llian with him. Only Karan can save him, though she's not sure that she can help herself. Tensor wants her dead, the other powers are hunting her for her sensitive talents, and Rulke the Charon broods over them all from his Nightland prison.

Dark Is the Moon: The View from the Mirror Quartet, Book 3

Rulke the Great Betrayer is free at last, to use the deadly construct he has spent a thousand years perfecting. To succeed he needs just one thing – Karan's sensitive talent. Karan and her lover Llian are lost in the Nightland, in an alien palace that is collapsing around them. Only Rulke can open the gate and send them home to Santhenar, but Karan is terrified that he will corrupt Llian first.

The Way Between Worlds: The View from the Mirror Quartet, Book 4

There is a dark full moon on midwinter's day. The foretelling has come to pass. Rulke the Charon is unstoppable now. Karan is held captive in desolate Carcharon tower. Rulke plans to use her to find the Way between the Worlds. On the mountainside below, the allies await their fate. Karan's lover, Llian, is in chains, falsely accused of betraying her to the enemy. As the dark moon rises, Rulke begins to open the Way. If he succeeds, the world will be overwhelmed by the dread armies of the void.

Geomancer: Well of Echoes, Book 1

Two hundred years after the Forbidding was broken, Santhenar is locked in war with the lyrinx - intelligent, winged predators who will do anything to gain their own world. Despite the development of battle clankers and mastery of the crystals that power them, humanity is losing. Tiaan, a lonely crystal worker in a clanker manufactory, is experimenting with an entirely new kind of crystal when she begins to have extraordinary visions.

The Summer Dragon: First Book of The Evertide

Maia and her family raise dragons for the political war machine. As she comes of age, she anticipates a dragon of her own to add to the stable of breeding parents. Her peaceful life is shattered when the Summer Dragon - one of the rare and mythical High Dragons - makes an appearance in her quiet valley. Political factions vie for control of the implied message, threatening her aspirations, her aerie, her entire way of life.

Scrutator: Well of Echoes, Book 3

The node has failed, rendering humanity's battle clankers and the Aachim's constructs useless. The battle has been lost. Now hordes of alien lyrinx are swarming out of the tar pits of Snizort, intending to fall upon the survivors and destroy them to the last man. Tiaan is held prisoner by a vengeful Vithis, who is determined to extract her geomantic secrets at any cost. For his failings, Nish has been cast out and branded a traitor while Irisis, accused of high treason, has been forced to flee for her life.

Paths of Alir: A Pattern of Shadow and Light, Book 3

Powerful beings from the fringes of Chaos have come to the realm of Alorin. Fate bends to their will, and their will is set upon Alorin's destruction. Alone in understanding the threat they pose, Alorin's Fifth Vestal, Björn val Gelderan, has launched a desperate plan to stop them: a "great game" played upon the tapestry of mortal life. Now, in Paths of Alir, Björn's Players have taken the field.

The Queen's Poisoner: The Kingfountain Series, Book 1

King Severn Argentine's fearsome reputation precedes him: usurper of the throne, killer of rightful heirs, ruthless punisher of traitors. Attempting to depose him, the Duke of Kiskaddon gambles...and loses. Now the duke must atone by handing over his young son, Owen, as the king's hostage. And should his loyalty falter again, the boy will pay with his life.

The Dagger of Adendigaeth: A Pattern of Shadow and Light, Book 2

At long last, the reason for the blessed Adept race's decline has been discovered: powerful beings known as Malorin'athgul are disrupting the Balance and preventing Alorin's Adepts from awakening to their gifts. Who are they? Where are they? And how can they be stopped when they wield a power meant to unmake the universe itself? In T'khendar, Prince Ean val Lorian has forsaken his companions in blood and battle to join the traitorous Fifth Vestal in T'khendar in the hopes of gaining some insight into the tragedies that plagued his return.

The King's Traitor: The Kingfountain Series, Book 3

Against all odds, Owen Kiskaddon grew from frightened boy to confident youth to trusted officer in the court of Kingfountain - and watched its regent, Severn Argentine, grow ever more ruthless and power-mad. Robbed of his beloved protector, his noble mentor, and his true love, Owen has anticipated the day when the king he fears and reviles, yet loyally serves, will be toppled. Now, as Severn plots a campaign of conquest, the time has come to take action...and Owen's destiny demands that he lead the strike.

Reign of Madness: King's Dark Tidings, Book 2

Equipped with skills far beyond those of the outworlders, Rezkin has been suddenly thrust into a foreign world. The young warrior clings to his only known purpose as he continues his search for any information about his identity and the reason for his existence. While the hardened warrior scorns both dueling and tournaments, he believes some of the answers he seeks may be found at the King's Tournament, the greatest dueling championship in all of the kingdoms.

The Blood Mirror

When does an empire fall? The Seven Satrapies have collapsed into four - and those are falling before the White King's armies. Gavin Guile, ex-emperor, ex-Prism, ex-galley slave, formerly the one man who might have averted war, is now lost, broken, and trapped in a prison crafted by his own hands to hold a great magical genius. But Gavin has no magic at all. Worse, in this prison Gavin may not be alone.

The Red Sea: The Cycle of Galand, Book 1

When Dante Galand was just a boy, his father, Larsin, sailed away to make his fortune. And never returned. Since then, Dante has become a great sorcerer. A ruler. A destroyer of kings. And he's just learned that his father is living on a forbidden island at the edge of the known world. Where he's dying of a mysterious plague. In the company of his friend, the swordsman Blays, Dante travels to the island. There, his magic can do nothing for his father.

Elseerian: The Chronicles of Lumineia, Book 1

The assassination of heroes was once a warning... for an invasion that nearly destroyed the world. Nations were slaughtered, cities were erased from existence, and defending armies were crushed into oblivion. In weeks, all life stood on the verge of extinction. But the end did not come. Instead the black horde vanished, leaving terrified survivors... and rumors. As the centuries passed the holocaust faded into legend, and finally myth. Across the southern sea a gifted young man is completing his training.

Cephrael's Hand: A Pattern of Shadow and Light, Book 1

In Alorin...300 years after the genocidal Adept Wars, the realm is dying, and the blessed Adept race dies with it. One man holds the secret to reverting this decline: Bjorn van Gelderan, a dangerous and enigmatic man whose shocking betrayal three centuries past earned him a traitor's brand. It is the Adept Vestal Raine D'Lacourte's mission to learn what Bjorn knows in the hope of salvaging his race. But first he'll have to find him....

Path of The Calm: Saga of The Wolf, Book 1

The young world of Onneron has known peace for years. But now unease has spread across the land as disagreements between factions threaten each other's way of life. The Brothers of the Onneron College dedicate themselves to higher learning and to mastering Paths of magic. They wish to remain independent, but the Onneron Church feels threatened by their ability to heal and vies to take control of their order. Treace, bullied and belittled, is unaware of the plan his deceased father has for him.

The Wretched of Muirwood: Legends of Muirwood, Book 1

The Wretched of Muirwood, the opening novel in the Muirwood Trilogy, is the tale of the orphan Lia - who is part of a pariah caste known only as the "wretched", a people unloved, unwanted, and destined to a life of servitude. Forbidden to read or write, and forced to slave away in the Abbey kitchen, Lia is all but resigned to her fate. But when an injured squire named Colvin is abandoned at the Abbey kitchen, opportunity arises, and Lia conspires to hide Colvin and change her life forever.…

Enchantress: Evermen Saga, Book 1

Ella and her brother, Miro, are orphans, their parents killed long ago in the ongoing struggle against the mad Emperor. From the day Ella witnesses an enchanter using his talents to save Miro from drowning, she knows what she wants to be. But the elite Academy of Enchanters expects tuition fees and knowledge. Determined, Ella sells flowers and studies every book she can. Meanwhile, Miro dreams of becoming one of the world's finest swordsmen, wielding his nation's powerful enchanted weapons in defense of his homeland.

Nightblade

A quiet child, Moriko is forced into a monastic system she despises. Torn from her family and the forest she grew up in, she must fight to learn the skills she'll need to survive her tutelage under the realm's most dangerous assassin. Young, beautiful, and broke, Takako is sold to pay for her father's debts. Thrust into a world she doesn't understand and battles she didn't ask for, she must decide where her loyalties lie. When their lives crash together in a kingdom on the brink of war, the decisions they make will change both their lives and their kingdom forever.

Dawn of Wonder: The Wakening, Book 1

When a high-ranking officer gallops into the quiet Mistyvales, he brings a warning that shakes the countryfolk to their roots. But for Aedan, a scruffy young adventurer with veins full of fire and a head full of ideas, this officer is not what he seems. The events that follow propel Aedan on a journey that only the foolhardy or desperate would risk, leading him to the gates of the nation's royal academy - a whole world of secrets in itself. But this is only the beginning of his discoveries.

The Secrets of Supervillainy: The Supervillainy Saga, Book 3

Merciless, the Supervillain without Mercy (TM), is back with even bigger problems! How far will he go to fix his wife's current state of being a soulless vampire? Can he ignore his growing feelings for Cindy, despite their difference over the new Star Wars movie? Can he survive the wrath of the president of the United States (whom he accidentally stole billions from)?

Antonio Stevens says:"The story was ok but overall it was outstanding."

No Good Dragon Goes Unpunished: Heartstrikers, Book 3

When Julius overthrew his mother and took control of his clan, he thought he was doing right by everyone. But sharing power isn't part of any proper dragon's vocabulary, and with one seat still open on the new ruling council, all of Heartstriker is ready to do whatever it takes to get their claws on it, including killing the Nice Dragon who got them into this mess in the first place.

The Dragons of Dorcastle: The Pillars of Reality, Book 1

The Mechanics and the Mages have been bitter rivals, agreeing only on the need to keep the world they rule from changing. But now a Storm approaches, one that could sweep away everything humans have built. Only one person has any chance of uniting enough of Dematr behind her to stop the Storm, but the Great Guilds and many others will stop at nothing to defeat her.

Gardens of the Moon: The Malazan Book of the Fallen, Book 1

The Malazan Empire simmers with discontent, bled dry by interminable warfare, bitter infighting, and bloody confrontations with ancient and implacable sorcerers. Even the imperial legions, long inured to the bloodshed, yearn for some respite. Yet Empress Laseen’s rule remains absolute, enforced by her dreaded Claw assassins. For Sergeant Whiskeyjack and his squad of Bridgeburners, and for Tattersail, their lone surviving mage, the aftermath of the siege of Pale should have been a time to mourn the many dead. But Darujhistan, last of the Free Cities, yet holds out.

Publisher's Summary

Once there were three worlds, each with their own human species. Then, fleeing out of the void came a fourth species, the Charon. Desperate, on the edge of extinction, they changed the balance between the worlds forever. Karan, a sensitive with a troubled heritage, is forced to steal an ancient relic in repayment of a debt. It turns out to be the Mirror of Aachan, a twisted, deceitful thing that remembers everything it has ever seen. At the same time, Llian, a brilliant chronicler, is expelled from his college for uncovering a perilous mystery. Thrown together by fate, Karan and Llian are hunted across a world at war, for the Mirror contains a secret that offers each species survival, or extinction!

I really wanted to like this book. I seem to be currently waiting for the next installment of 3 or 4 different series. I was looking for a series of books that were already complete, and this story looked like a good one. I listened to the preview before downloading, and the narrator seemed to have a good voice, and I was excited to get started.

Unfortunately, I listened through this story, and never seemed to get into it. I kept listening, hoping it would get better as many books do, but it never did. Initially the story seemed to have promise. I liked both the characters of Llian and especially Karan. But soon Llian began to seem like a spoiled kid, and I lost interest in his part of the story. I continued to like Karan, but her story seemed jumbled and tedious. In one scene she is being chased by creatures through a swamp. The description of her struggle goes on forever. Just when you think it can't go any longer, she is suddenly free and the story takes up days later. Another thing that lacked was the magic in the story. Some sort of mind fighting between the characters that made little sense.

The last thing I didn't care for was the narrator. While I initially thought this would be a strength of the book, I soon found out I was wrong. Cartwright has a decent voice that was initially pleasing to listen too, but I started to notice that he continually stopped to swallow, and make noises that seemed like he was licking his lips. It became very distracting. I have never heard anything like it before in an audiobook.

This book is full of wonderful drawn characters, who exude warmth. You can feel their pain, sorrow and joys. I didn't want it to end. So much so that when it did I went right away and downloaded the next book. My daughters (age 11) loved it too. Especially since she is dyslexic and finds reading difficult. I make them listen to these books in the car and they love them.

This is a most excellent fantasy series. I've listened to hundreds, probably thousands, of Audible hours over the past few years and this is one of my favorites. The world Ian Irvine has created is well defined and completely believable. He keeps the tension tight throughout the four books: you are never bored. The plot is seldom predictable and the character development is extensive. There is a good balance between dreadful moments when things go all wrong for the heros, and "happy sigh" moments when things go just right. The reader is perfect with a rich variety of voices that are never annoying. The first book can be a bit tedious sometimes as the heroine is running for her life through most of it, but the other three books have a much better variety of action.

Being an avid reader (listener) of fantasy books, I've grown to expect certain tropes. They don't NEED to be applied, they're just classic storytelling elements that have worked in the past. Tried and true, as it were. Sometimes effective authors can turn those tropes on their head and create shocking endings or amusing reversals of expectations. In any event, Ian Irvine sets up a massive amount of commonly used tropes early on in the book that come to absolutely no payoff, ironic or not. Reading this book is like feeling a sneeze coming on, then having nothing happen. I understand that this is the first novel in a series of, like, four, but the first novel was so off-putting that I really don't want to go on to the next one.

For example: early on in the novel, we're told that one of the main characters has a sort of empathic magic; able to sense the feelings of others and project her own feelings into the minds of others. At no point during the story is this talent used in any way that would benefit her. In fact, she becomes a complete liability precisely due to this magic. What's more is that during the first act of the novel, she's constantly ridiculed as a useless member of the Fantasy Quest until she finds herself alone. Here we might expect that hitherto useless magic to become a boon to her survival. Perhaps she could project feelings of pacifism onto her pursuers. But no. That doesn't happen. Instead she becomes Chuck Norris, Houdini, and Davy Crockett all rolled into one and her magic is never really used. And the only time her talents aid her in any way is a newly discovered spell that we're never told about until she thinks to use it. It almost seemed like the author was making things up as he went along.

In a similar vein, the author also gives us another protagonist, a master storyteller and historian. Early on we're given the impression that he's somewhat naive and short-sighted, and that his talents would only serve him in civilized areas. Normal fantasy logic would indicate that his story-telling abilities, while unused and undervalued at first, would come in handy later on. Maybe some oft-ignored bit of trivia would aid in solving a puzzle, getting our heroes out of a nasty scrape. Perhaps he would know some language many others don't, and be able to talk his way into getting aid from an unlikely source. He seemed to have an eidetic memory, maybe he'll be really good at memorizing and interpreting an old journal they find. But none of that ever happened. Instead nothing happened.

Well, nothing that's set up in the beginning of the book, at least. He's completely useless at the beginning of the book and he remains completely useless at the end of the book. Nothing changes. He doesn't learn how to defend himself, his talent affords him nothing of surpassing helpfulness, and every moment of heroism he has could be described as An Ordinary Person in an Extraordinary Situation. There was no reason for him to be a scribe or a storyteller at all. He could have been a janitor for all the help his on-the-job skills gave him.

Also, there seems to be a theme of People in Charge all being huge, manipulative jerks. They all act like entitled teenagers, lying, whining, and imposing their will upon people with less bullishness they they. Again, none of them seem to learn a lesson on civility towards their subordinates, even when faced with extraordinary evidence of their own failings.

My final complaint would be that the action never lets up. Normally that would be a good thing. David Gemmell, Brandon Sanderson, and Joe Abercrombie are all authors whose books have high levels of action, and I enjoy all of them. The key difference is that they're all experts at building up tension and releasing it with a climactic action scene. This could be done chapter by chapter, it could be done over a series of chapters, but the point is there must be a "room temperature" for the action scenes to have any impact. In this book, we're given two or three chapters of exposition, then a chase ensues and literally DOES NOT STOP until halfway through the book. After a brief respite, it starts up again and doesn't stop until the end of the book. Since the characters are so busy running around back and forth, they're given scant opportunity to talk, think, or grow in many ways. They become one-dimensional archetypes of The Cold, Mercurial Warrior Woman, The Clumsy, Effeminate Scribe, or the The Ruthless, Conflicted Wizard.

It's not all bad. There are some moments of high suspense. And I did find myself warming to the male protagonist, who remained naively well-meaning throughout. At the end of the book, though, no one's grown (unless you count going insane), no one's learned anything (in a cosmic, game-changing kind of way), and the balance of power - which was ridiculously unbalanced to begin with - retained the status quo from beginning to end.

I read this book about 10 years ago. I also read book 2 and half of book 3. I dercided to start again from the beginning and also decided to go for the audio book. The book itself is very good & I don't read many books, let alone a number of books in a series. The thing that made this audio book even better was the narration. The first thing I always do now when looking for an audio book is to listen to the sample and read reviews of the narration. As far as I am concerned the narration is a very big part of the book. No matter how good the story is, if the narration is monotone and boring you simply woin't finish the book.

So yes you guessed it. As far as I'm concerned the narration in this series is first class. Grant puts on the voices of a wide range of charachters which adds greatly to the reading.

I would highly recommend this book and the narrator.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Clare

England

11/10/10

Overall

"compelling and fascinating"

I liked the cover for this book as it reminded me of something. It turned out that I had read this book about 5 years ago. This was not a disappointment though as the narrator has one of the best voices I have heard in a long time for an audio book. It is also a great story in its self and as always in books it nice to finally know how the names are pronounced I will definitely get the rest in the series on audible even thought I have read them as it is such a compelling book.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Mr J G Whitehead

8/26/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"More than a mirror, more than simple fantasy"

What did you like most about A Shadow on the Glass?

The World created by Ian Irvine is sprawling, sets the scene and introduces you to the complex world of Santhanar one of the three world. A fantasy of epic proportions. Characters with real depth and history. I really sense of foreboding is installed for the upcoming books.

What other book might you compare A Shadow on the Glass to, and why?

Mt first foray into the sprawling grand fantasy. Closest I can think in similarity are the space operas of Ian Banks just on the scale of things. Unfortunately showing my lack of reading in this area

What does Grant Cartwright bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Grant brinks a power to emotional outburst of the characters, i real sense of frustration and viciousness to those that need it. His voice gives you more time to really imagine and see the world.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Do you know the Histories? the Great Tales? ...are you sure

Any additional comments?

A world that I've read all of the books set within it. deep and dark

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

E Groom

9/18/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Good solid start to an enjoyable series"

What made the experience of listening to A Shadow on the Glass the most enjoyable?

I read the books years ago and know that I enjoy Ian Irvine's writing. I didn't know if I would like the audiobook but it was actually very satisfying. The narator's interpretation of the text gave an added dimension to the experience. I know that I will complete the series....

Who was your favorite character and why?

Karan....of course. Altho I got quite cross with her occasionally.

Which character – as performed by Grant Cartwright – was your favourite?

see above..

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

StuartJAtkinson

7/11/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Epic"

An epic and enthralling fantasy. One of my favourite novels of all time stumbled upon in the charity shops of Robin Hoods Bay, England.

I am always amazed by the depth of the world and subtlety of the magic, things lost in the new TV age. Every time I listen to or read this series again I find a new subplot, place of interest or small character to understand and consider.

It is rare I am able to reread books as I have an idetic memory but Ian Irvines books are rich enough that I can and I love them for it.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Ryan

4/21/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"gets me through my night shifts"

Grant Cartwright has a true tellers voice, thoroughly enjoyed this reading and bought the rest of the quartet for a shadow on the glass and have now started on the well of echoes quartet! hoping the song of the tears trilogy isn't far from recording

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

wayne

1/4/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Slow start but really grows on you"

Great book as I said the book took time to really get going but once it did it is a brilliant read

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Justine

Bulls, New Zealand

11/21/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"It never met my expectations"

What disappointed you about A Shadow on the Glass?

Too much description, not enough magic, and bad writing.

What was most disappointing about Ian Irvine’s story?

That it never met my expectations of a great story.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

He didn't really - he only had the words he was given, however, I found his accent slightly annoying after a while.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment

Any additional comments?

I totally agree with the other negative reviews - sometimes I wonder if the very positive reviews are genuine - or whether the reviewers expectations are very low. This book may have been better in the printed version as I would have skipped large sections - especially the bit in the swamp. The author does not have the great writing skills of other fantasy authors and I would not read another of his books. I gave up after 9 chapters as the story was not moving forward but flat lining. And surely fantasy books need more magic than this one had. That is the reason for reading them.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

Marc

Hove, United Kingdom

12/2/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"Dreadful"

What a mess. The story is all over the place and the characters are dull. Some have complimented the narrator but I would beg to differ. I found his voice annoying and there was no attempt at voice acting any of the parts. I managed to get through the book to the end but will not bother with the rest of the series. I am an avid reader/listener of fantasy and rarely to I find a book that I really don't like but this is most definitely one.

I suggest you find another book. Maybe a writer like Joe Abercrombie or Scott Lynch. Ian Irvine could take lessons from either of them.

0 of 4 people found this review helpful

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